Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Monday 19 July 1999

Scottish Executive

Broadcasting

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been consulted by Her Majesty’s Government about the appointment of a new National Governor for Scotland of the BBC and, if so, whether its response referred to candidates’ acknowledged political affiliations as a reason to (a) prefer or (b) reject them.

Rhona Brankin: Scottish Ministers have been consulted about the appointment of the BBC Scottish Governor. The political activities of candidates are declared during the appointments process. The criterion for recommending candidates is their suitability for the particular appointment.

Conservation

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assess the impact of quarrying at Croy Hill on the historic Roman sites in the area and whether these are different from any existing plans.

Rhona Brankin: We have no plans to assess the impact of quarrying at Croy Hill. A section of the Antonine Wall here is scheduled and in the care of Historic Scotland. The existing quarrying has no direct impact on the monument. Any proposal to quarry within the scheduled area would require scheduled monument consent from Historic Scotland.

Culture

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive in the light of the recent report prepared for Glasgow City Council’s Best Value review, what plans it has to review the funding of Scotland’s museums and art galleries to ensure that council tax payers are not subsidising national resources.

Rhona Brankin: Under the provisions of the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985, the National Museums and Galleries of Scotland are funded by central government grant. Local authorities operate and fund their own museums and galleries as part of their statutory duty to ensure that there is adequate provision of facilities for their residents for recreational, sporting, cultural and social activities. We have no plans to change these funding arrangements.

Economic Developement

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make a statement on the resignation of the Chief Executive of Fife Enterprise.

Henry McLeish: No. This is a matter for Fife Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise.

Education

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives or legislative proposals it intends to bring forward to support or promote cycling proficiency in schools, and whether it intends to provide additional resources to do so either directly to schools or through local authorities.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Road Safety Campaign, funded by the Government, has recently reviewed the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme. In the light of this review, training materials are being revised. A new training pack will be issued early next year to all Road Safety Units in Scotland and its use promoted in schools throughout the country. As local authorities already have wide powers and duties in respect of road safety, it is not considered that additional legislation is necessary in order to support or promote cycling proficiency in schools. Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, resources allocated for road safety education and publicity were increased by £1 million over the 3 years beginning 1999-2000.

Education

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to provide a detailed breakdown of the increase of £0.4 million made available to Perth College in 1999-2000 as announced on 2 July 1999.

Henry McLeish: Perth College was notified in February 1999 of the following increases in grant provision for 1999-2000 over comparable provision announced in February 1998 for last year -

  

Increase in recurrent grant-in-aid


£72,000 



Increase in bursary allocation


£170,000 



New Infrastructure Grant - for
health and safety projects 

£91,000 



New Information and Communications
Technology Grant 

£96,000 



Total 

£429,000

Finance

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to consult the Federation of Small Businesses in connection with the impending revaluation of non-domestic rates, and the rules and principles to be applied in that revaluation.

Mr Jack McConnell: The GB-wide non-domestic rates revaluation, which is to take effect from 1 April 2000, will be carried out by the Assessors in Scotland, in liaison with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) in England and Wales. They are statutorily independent of Central and Local Government. Regulations will be required to effect certain elements of the revaluation and all interested parties will be consulted in due course.

Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek representation on the Bates Committee, Her Majesty's Treasury Task Force on the future of Public Finance Initiatives and Public Private Partnerships.

Mr Jack McConnell: Sir Malcolm Bates was asked to carry out his review by HM Treasury. There was no formal committee on which the Executive could be represented. Sir Malcolm has now submitted his report to HM Treasury for consideration. Officials in the Scottish Executive Private Finance Unit maintain close contact with HM Treasury and will continue to do so.

Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the benefits of bringing the funding for all post 16 education and training within one funding body, incorporating the relevant budgets of Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Higher and Further Education Funding Councils, the New Deal programmes and the European Social Fund matching funds.

Henry McLeish: The importance of bringing together responsibility for post-school education and training is fully recognised by the creation of a single Department within the Executive, the Enterprise and Lifelong learning Department. This Department will, in particular, have oversight for the policy, guidance and funding of Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Higher and Further Education Funding Councils and for the delivery of the New Deal in Scotland.

Finance

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the review of local authority financial distribution arrangements to report.

Mr Jack McConnell: Local authority financial distribution arrangements are under review by the Distribution Committee of the Working Party on Local Government Finance in Scotland. Representatives from 16 councils and COSLA are members of the Committee. Changes affecting the distribution of the 2000-01 local government finance settlement will be reported to Scottish Ministers and COSLA Office Bearers in November, along with a progress report on reviews for later implementation.

Food

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to make a decision as to the location of the Food Standards Agency in Scotland.

Susan Deacon: No decision has yet been taken on the location of the Scottish arm of the Food Standards Agency. This matter will be considered and an announcement will be made in due course.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to take account of the potential combined impact on hospital services of "bed-blockers" and the anticipated increase in hospital admissions over the 1999-2000 New Year holiday period in its Millennium contingency planning.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring that Health Boards and NHS Trusts continue work with other agencies, including local authorities, to cope with periods of peak demand as part of the process of managing effectively the services provided to patients. They have been asked to plan particularly for the additional demands that may arise over the 1999-2000 New Year holiday period.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take in addressing Scotland’s record of chronic heart disease.

Susan Deacon: Tackling Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) has been one of the clinical priorities of the National Health Service in Scotland for some years.

  Scotland’s CHD burden means that we must find ways to stop people getting the disease in the first place. The Scottish Executive is taking forward a £15m demonstration project under the White Paper Towards a Healthier Scotland which will build on international experience in promoting primary prevention of CHD.

  We are also addressing the needs of those with the established disease. We are raising the coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rate to 616 per million population by the end of March 2000, thereby treating the disease at a less advanced stage and minimising delays that lead to avoidable disease and death. Our CHD Task Force is also working on an assessment of the appropriate rate for the Scottish population for both CABG and angioplasty, and I shall want to take account of the implications of that work. We also need to look at ways of improving cardiac rehabilitation services across the country. The overall aim of the Task Force’s work is to make sure that people with CHD have equity of access to the network of cardiac services and are not disadvantaged by factors such as age or where they live.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to address public concern over the potential health risks in relation to mobile telephone telecommunication masts.

Susan Deacon: I am aware of current concerns about possible risks to health from mobile telephone telecommunication masts and the Executive will shortly be writing to all Members of the Scottish Parliament setting out in detail our position on this issue. Meanwhile, advice from the National Radiological Protection Board, which advises the Executive on matters of this kind, indicates that the field strengths of signals from mobile telephone masts at places to which the public have access are below recommended guideline levels and should present no health risk. The Board’s advice is based on its own research and on assessments, by its Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation, of biological and epidemiological work world-wide.

  As a further measure, the Board have also been asked to set up an independent expert group to assess the current state of research into any health risks associated with the use of mobile phones and telephone communication masts. The group will be chaired by Sir William Stewart FRS FRSE and its detailed membership and terms of reference will be announced shortly.

Health

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to tackle the problem of food poverty in Scotland.

Susan Deacon: Eradicating food poverty is an important element of our strategy to reduce health inequalities in Scotland. We currently fund the Scottish Community Diet Project to the tune of around £200K per annum. The Project works very closely with deprived communities, both urban and rural, and has funded 23 local initiatives to date. In addition, one of our Social Inclusion action teams is assessing the role of food and health initiatives in combating poverty at local level. It is expected to report by the end of September.

Health

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in each local authority area were in residential care homes in each of the last five years and were aged (a) 60 to 64 years; (b) 65 to 74 years; (c) 75 to 84 years; and (d) 85 years and over.

Iain Gray: The tables show the age breakdown of residents in homes for older people by council for each of the last four available years. Figures for 1998 are due to be published on 25 August.

  Residential Care for Older People 1994

  

Age Bands 



Council 

60-64 

65-74 

75-84 

85 and over 

Total 



Aberdeen City 

4 

54 

235 

397 

690 



Aberdeenshire 

3 

52 

212 

300 

567 



Angus 

5 

31 

210 

317 

563 



Argyll & Bute 

13 

61 

225 

304 

603 



Clackmannanshire 

0 

3 

13 

18 

34 



Dumfries & Galloway 

3 

56 

193 

260 

512 



Dundee City 

2 

65 

217 

367 

651 



East Dunbartonshire 

0 

16 

28 

47 

91 



East Lothian 

3 

32 

117 

170 

322 



East Renfrewshire 

0 

8 

68 

113 

189 



Edinburgh, City of 

10 

137 

480 

723 

1,350 



Eilean Siar 

1 

12 

49 

84 

146 



Falkirk 

3 

31 

105 

126 

265 



Fife 

6 

91 

307 

472 

876 



Glasgow City 

34 

224 

638 

841 

1,737 



Highland 

5 

75 

300 

420 

800 



Inverclyde 

3 

34 

76 

96 

209 



Midlothian 

0 

21 

90 

114 

225 



Moray 

6 

32 

98 

122 

258 



North Ayrshire 

3 

32 

117 

172 

324 



North Lanarkshire 

7 

86 

197 

250 

540 



Orkney Islands 

0 

10 

33 

44 

87 



Perth & Kinross 

5 

72 

244 

376 

697 



Renfrewshire 

0 

56 

198 

244 

498 



Scottish Borders 

0 

31 

133 

244 

408 



Shetland Islands 

0 

7 

24 

49 

80 



South Ayrshire 

1 

28 

87 

154 

270 



South Lanarkshire 

6 

71 

265 

267 

609 



Stirling 

7 

37 

108 

177 

329 



West Dunbartonshire 

2 

38 

107 

113 

260 



West Lothian 

1 

16 

79 

112 

208 



SCOTLAND 

136 

1,549 

5,350 

7,614 

14,649 




  Residential Care for Older People 1995

  

Age Bands 



Council 

60-64 

65-74 

75-84 

85 and over 

Total 



Aberdeen City 

2 

61 

220 

380 

663 



Aberdeenshire 

4 

52 

211 

294 

561 



Angus 

4 

30 

178 

323 

535 



Argyll & Bute 

11 

59 

188 

302 

560 



Clackmannanshire 

0 

3 

9 

8 

20 



Dumfries & Galloway 

3 

41 

185 

276 

505 



Dundee City 

0 

66 

194 

356 

616 



East Ayrshire 

5 

27 

91 

126 

249 



East Dunbartonshire 

1 

14 

31 

56 

102 



East Lothian 

2 

34 

110 

159 

305 



East Renfrewshire 

0 

6 

74 

119 

199 



Edinburgh, City of 

11 

118 

429 

724 

1,282 



Eilean Siar 

1 

11 

47 

87 

146 



Falkirk 

3 

36 

106 

140 

285 



Fife 

5 

79 

291 

468 

843 



Glasgow City 

41 

221 

573 

768 

1,603 



Highland 

7 

67 

261 

430 

765 



Midlothian 

0 

26 

94 

114 

234 



Moray 

3 

28 

94 

132 

257 



North Ayrshire 

4 

35 

126 

185 

350 



North Lanarkshire 

9 

86 

205 

245 

545 



Orkney Islands 

0 

5 

27 

44 

76 



Perth & Kinross 

4 

64 

220 

367 

655 



Renfrewshire 

1 

51 

191 

263 

506 



Scottish Borders 

0 

22 

120 

243 

385 



Shetland Islands 

0 

6 

32 

52 

90 



South Ayrshire 

2 

31 

90 

150 

273 



South Lanarkshire 

7 

67 

245 

277 

596 



Stirling 

6 

47 

135 

209 

397 



West Dunbartonshire 

2 

38 

107 

118 

265 



West Lothian 

1 

17 

79 

98 

195 



SCOTLAND 

140 

1,481 

5,041 

7,609 

14,271 




  Residential Care for Older People 1996

  

Age Bands 



Council 

60-64 

65-74 

75-84 

85 and over 

Total 



Aberdeen City 

3 

60 

212 

354 

629 



Aberdeenshire 

7 

52 

191 

284 

534 



Angus 

4 

34 

146 

339 

523 



Argyll & Bute 

8 

62 

193 

280 

543 



Clackmannanshire 

0 

6 

18 

20 

44 



Dumfries & Galloway 

3 

40 

176 

272 

491 



Dundee City 

0 

61 

187 

351 

599 



East Ayrshire 

5 

25 

92 

120 

242 



East Dunbartonshire 

0 

12 

42 

52 

106 



East Lothian 

4 

33 

115 

161 

313 



East Renfrewshire 

0 

8 

70 

107 

185 



Edinburgh, City of 

20 

157 

412 

687 

1,276 



Eilean Siar 

2 

11 

48 

90 

151 



Falkirk 

5 

42 

106 

141 

294 



Fife 

3 

83 

303 

485 

874 



Glasgow City 

47 

253 

623 

824 

1,747 



Highland 

6 

73 

286 

429 

794 



Inverclyde 

2 

30 

69 

98 

199 



Midlothian 

2 

26 

89 

114 

231 



Moray 

3 

27 

72 

122 

224 



North Ayrshire 

5 

30 

133 

165 

333 



North Lanarkshire 

7 

83 

211 

263 

564 



Orkney Islands 

1 

5 

29 

46 

81 



Perth & Kinross 

1 

59 

205 

370 

635 



Renfrewshire 

4 

54 

161 

249 

468 



Shetland Islands 

0 

7 

31 

61 

99 



South Ayrshire 

2 

31 

98 

146 

277 



South Lanarkshire 

7 

56 

241 

293 

597 



Stirling 

6 

45 

124 

198 

373 



West Dunbartonshire 

2 

33 

106 

132 

273 



West Lothian 

0 

20 

77 

92 

189 



SCOTLAND 

159 

1,538 

4,981 

7,586 

14,264 




  Residential Care for Older People 1997

  

Age Bands 



Council 

60-64 

65-74 

75-84 

85 and over 

Total 



Aberdeen City 

5 

59 

204 

355 

623 



Aberdeenshire 

9 

53 

186 

288 

536 



Angus 

4 

24 

132 

283 

443 



Argyll & Bute 

8 

61 

180 

308 

557 



Clackmannanshire 

0 

6 

32 

34 

72 



Dumfries & Galloway 

5 

49 

187 

294 

535 



Dundee City 

1 

48 

160 

310 

519 



East Ayrshire 

3 

32 

97 

118 

250 



East Dunbartonshire 

0 

9 

39 

66 

114 



East Lothian 

1 

24 

128 

149 

302 



East Renfrewshire 

0 

7 

73 

120 

200 



Edinburgh, City of 

20 

146 

382 

682 

1,230 



Eilean Siar 

3 

13 

46 

97 

159 



Falkirk 

2 

36 

103 

135 

276 



Fife 

3 

64 

278 

466 

811 



Glasgow City 

41 

276 

636 

837 

1,790 



Highland 

7 

66 

286 

408 

767 



Inverclyde 

2 

26 

97 

151 

276 



Midlothian 

1 

29 

88 

122 

240 



Moray 

3 

26 

77 

118 

224 



North Ayrshire 

4 

26 

124 

178 

332 



North Lanarkshire 

10 

68 

191 

258 

527 



Orkney Islands 

2 

6 

24 

53 

85 



Perth & Kinross 

3 

59 

198 

367 

627 



Renfrewshire 

4 

45 

142 

218 

409 



Scottish Borders 

0 

25 

110 

266 

401 



Shetland Islands 

0 

6 

23 

70 

99 



South Ayrshire 

2 

24 

100 

145 

271 



South Lanarkshire 

9 

45 

215 

293 

562 



Stirling 

12 

35 

102 

186 

335 



West Dunbartonshire 

3 

24 

97 

113 

237 



West Lothian 

0 

27 

91 

101 

219 



SCOTLAND 

167 

1,444 

4,828 

7,589 

14,028

Health

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in residential care homes in each of the last five years were funded by (a) the local authority on a means tested basis; (b) the individuals themselves; and (c) the Department of Social Security through preserved rights; and what were the figures for people aged (i) 60 to 64 years; (ii) 65 to 74 years; (iii) 75 to 84 years; and (iv) 85 years and over.

Iain Gray: The tables show how older people in residential care homes in Scotland were funded in each of the last four years available and categorised by age bands. Information for 1998 will be published on 25 August.

Health

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS patients were waiting to be (a) seen following GP written referral; and (b) seen following referral to consultation, for each quarter since 30 March 1997.

Susan Deacon: Information on waiting lists is collected centrally only for hospital inpatients and day cases. Data is available on first outpatient referrals and the length of time that patients waited for their first outpatient appointment. The median wait for a first outpatient appointment following a General Medical Practitioner/General Dental Practitioner referral for each quarter since 31 March 1997, is provided in the table.

  The Scottish Executive is committed to set and monitor targets to speed treatment and shorten waiting times. We plan to ensure that this commitment extends to outpatients as well as inpatient and day case treatment. The views of the NHS in Scotland and the general public will be sought before targets are set. These targets will be closely monitored and will be published.

  NHS in Scotland: Median Wait For First Outpatient Appointment2 Following General Medical/General Dental Practitioner Referral

  

Date 

Median Wait (Days) 



31 March 1997


75 



30 June 1997 

83 



30 September 1997 

85 



31 December 1997 

85 



31 March 1998 

82 



30 June 1998 

91 



30 September 1998 

90 



31 December 1998p 

86 



31 March 1999p 

63 




  p Provisional

  2 Excludes A&E and genito urinary medicine. Also excludes cases with a Patient’s Charter guarantee exception code.

  Source ISD Scotland

Health

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS patients have been waiting over 12 months for their NHS operation and for a breakdown (a) by health board, and (b) by quarter-year from 30 March 1997.

Susan Deacon: The number of patients with a Patient’s Charter guarantee who waited over 12 months for inpatient and day case treatment, by Health Board area, on the dates requested, is provided in the table.

  The Scottish Executive is committed to set and monitor targets to speed treatment and shorten waiting times and we will consult widely before targets are set. These will be closely monitored and will be published.

  NHS in Scotland: Number of Patients With A Patient’s Charter Guarantee Who Waited More Than 12 Months For Inpatient and Day Case Treatment

  

Health Board of Residence 

31 Mar 1997 

30 June 1997 

30 Sept 1997 

31 Dec 1997 

31 Mar 1998 

30 June 1998 

30 Sept 1998 

31 Dec 1998 

31 Mar 1999 



Argyll and Clyde 

2 

26 

21 

5 

- 

- 

- 

1 

3 



Ayrshire and Arran 

15 

2 

3 

1 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 



Borders 

- 

- 

1 

1 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 



Dumfries and Galloway 

- 

- 

1 

2 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 



Fife 

1 

7 

1 

2 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 



Forth Valley 

1 

1 

1 

1 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 



Grampian 

- 

- 

- 

2 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 



Greater Glasgow 

1 

98 

191 

345 

- 

- 

- 

1 

- 



Highland 

- 

3 

- 

2 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 



Lanarkshire 

- 

2 

1 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 



Lothian 

1 

3 

15 

33 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 



Orkney 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 



Shetland 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 



Tayside 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 



Western Isles 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 



Scotland 

22 

142 

235 

394 

- 

- 

- 

2 

3 




  Source: ISD Scotland

Health

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the hospitals in Scotland which have acute beds and in each case the number of (a) intensive care beds; (b) high dependency beds, and (c) other acute beds.

Susan Deacon: Information on the number of intensive care and other acute beds is shown in the tables. Separate numbers for high dependency beds are not collected and such beds are therefore included in the figures shown for other acute beds.

  NHS Hospitals in Scotland – Intensive Care and Other Acute Beds By Hospital As At 31 March 1999p

  

 
Average Available Staffed Beds




 
Intensive Care(1) 

Other Acute(2) 



Argyll & Clyde Health
Board Area 

 
 


Campbeltown Hospital 

- 

19 



Dunoon & District General
Hospital 

- 

50 



Helensburgh Victoria Infirmary


- 

6 



Inverclyde Royal Hospital 

15 

306 



Islay Hospital 

- 

24 



Lorn & Islands DGH, Oban 

- 

67 



Mid Argyll Hospital 

- 

15 



Rothesay Victoria Hospital 

- 

20 



Royal Alexandra Hospital 

10 

419 



Vale of Leven District General
Hospital 

- 

138 



 
 
 


Ayrshire & Arran Health
Board Area 

 
 


Arran War Memorial Hospital 

- 

19 



Ayrshire Central & Maternity
Hospital 

- 

48 



Ballochmyle Hospital 

- 

12 



Crosshouse Hospital 

5 

457 



Davidson Cottage Hospital 

- 

28 



Lady Margaret Hospital, Millport


- 

14 



The Ayr Hospital 

9 

309 



 
 
 


Borders Health Board Area


 
 


Borders General Hospital 

4 

232 



Coldstream Cottage Hospital 

- 

11 



Hawick Cottage Hospital 

- 

23 



Hay Lodge Hospital 

- 

23 



Kelso Hospital 

- 

17 



Knoll Hospital 

- 

12 



Sister Margaret Cottage Hospital


- 

6 



 
 
 


Dumfries & Galloway Health
Board Area 

 
 


Castle Douglas Hospital 

- 

8 



Cresswell Maternity Hospital 

- 

12 



Dumfries & Galloway Royal
Infirmary 

14 

292 



Garrick Hospital 

- 

42 



Kirkcudbright Hospital 

- 

3 



Moffat Hospital 

- 

10 



Newton Stewart Hospital 

- 

9 



 
 
 


Fife Health Board Area


 
 


Adamson Hospital 

- 

25 



Cameron Hospital, Windygates 

- 

3 



Forth Park Hospital 

- 

39 



Glenrothes Hospital 

- 

11 



Netherlea Hospital 

- 

6 



Queen Margaret Hospital 

11 

239 



Randolph Wemyss Memorial Hospital


- 

15 



St Andrews Memorial Hospital 

- 

29 



Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy 

11 

313 



 
 
 


Forth Valley Health Board Area


 
 


Falkirk & District Royal
Infirmary 

7 

239 



Stirling Royal Infirmary 

9 

290 



 
 
 


Grampian Health Board Area


 
 


Aberdeen Maternity Hospital 

- 

40 



Aberdeen Royal Infirmary 

24 

941 



Aboyne Hospital 

- 

10 



Campbell Hospital 

- 

4 



Chalmers Hospital 

- 

40 



Dr Gray’s Hospital 

- 

167 



Fleming Cottage Hospital 

- 

9 



Fraserburgh Hospital 

- 

21 



Glen O’Dee Hospital 

- 

11 



Huntly Jubilee Hospital 

- 

30 



Hyperbaric Centre 

- 

1 



Insch & District War Memorial
Hospital 

- 

13 



Inverurie Hospital 

- 

19 



Kincardine Community Hospital


- 

19 



Kincardine O’Neil War Memorial
Hospital 

- 

6 



Leanchoil Hospital 

- 

23 



Maud Hospital 

- 

6 



Peterhead Cottage Hospital 

- 

19 



Roxburghe Hospital 

- 

21 



Royal Aberdeen Children’s
Hospital 

2 

91 



Seafield Hospital 

- 

19 



Spynie Hospital 

- 

21 



Stephen Cottage Hospital 

- 

10 



Tor-na-dee Hospital 

- 

69 



Turner Memorial Hospital 

- 

20 



Turriff Cottage Hospital 

- 

14 



Woodend General Hospital 

- 

119 



 
 
 


Greater Glasgow Health Board
Area 

 
 


Canniesburn Hospital 

- 

74 



Glasgow Royal Infirmary 

13 

661 



Queen Mother’s Hospital 

28 

- 



RHSC, Glasgow 

11 

255 



Royal Maternity Hospital, Glasgow


11 

25 



Rutherglen Maternity Hospital,
Glasgow 

- 

6 



Southern General Hospital 

12 

551 



Stobhill Hospital 

9 

353 



Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow 

15 

410 



Western Infirmary, Glasgow 

18 

845 



 
 
 


Highland Health Board Area


 
 


Belford Hospital 

- 

45 



Caithness General Hospital 

- 

61 



Dunbar Hospital 

- 

19 



Gesto Hospital 

- 

14 



Ian Charles Hospital 

- 

12 



Lawson Memorial Hospital 

- 

15 



Mackinnon Memorial Hospital 

- 

24 



Nairn Town & County Hospital


- 

19 



Portree Hospital 

- 

12 



Raigmore Hospital 

10 

473 



Ross Memorial Hospital 

- 

31 



Royal Northern Infirmary 

- 

44 



 
 
 


Lanarkshire Health Board Area


 
 


Bellshill Maternity Hospital 

- 

34 



Hairmyres Hospital 

10 

338 



Kello Hospital 

- 

22 



Lady Home Hospital 

- 

22 



Law Hospital 

11 

396 



Lockhart Hospital 

- 

30 



Monklands District General Hospital


17 

429 



Stonehouse Hospital 

- 

120 



Victoria Cottage Hospital 

- 

17 



 
 
 


Lothian Health Board Area


 
 


Astley Ainslie Hospital 

- 

83 



Belhaven Hospital 

- 

12 



Eastern General Hospital 

- 

1 



Edinburgh City Hospital 

- 

39 



Edinburgh Royal Infirmary 

16 

643 



Edington Cottage Hospital 

- 

9 



Princess Margaret Rose Hospital


- 

78 



RHSC, Edinburgh 

6 

121 



Roodlands General Hospital 

- 

23 



Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh


- 

26 



Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion


- 

44 



St John’s Hospital at Howden


10 

293 



Western General Hospital, Edinburgh


15 

508 



 
 
 


Orkney Health Board Area


 
 


Balfour Hospital 

- 

61 



Eastbank Hospital 

- 

62 



 
 
 


Shetland Health Board Area


 
 


Gilbert Bain Hospital 

- 

54 



 
 
 


Tayside Health Board Area


 
 


Aberfeldy Cottage Hospital 

- 

9 



Arbroath Infirmary 

- 

22 



Blairgowrie Cottage Hospital 

- 

27 



Brechin Infirmary 

- 

20 



Crieff Community Hospital 

- 

24 



Dundee Limb Fitting Centre 

- 

17 



Dundee Royal Infirmary 

- 

124 



Forfar Infirmary 

- 

26 



Irvine Memorial Hospital 

- 

11 



Kings Cross Hospital 

- 

70 



Montrose Royal Infirmary 

- 

11 



Ninewells Hospital 

17 

623 



Perth Royal Infirmary 

8 

230 



Royal Victoria Hospital 

- 

21 



St Margaret’s Hospital 

- 

16 



Stracathro Hospital 

4 

134 



 
 
 


Western Isles Health Board
Area 

 
 


Daliburgh Hospital 

- 

16 



Lochmaddy Hospital 

- 

14 



St Brendan’s Hospital 

- 

4 



Western Isles Hospital 

- 

107 




  p Provisional

  (1) Comprises the following facilities: Intensive Care Unit and Cardiac Care Unit

  (2) All beds excluding those in the following specialties/facilities: geriatric assessment, geriatric long-stay, young physically disabled, obstetrics, psychiatric, learning disabilities and intensive care

  Source: ISD Scotland

Health

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) acute; (b) geriatric; (c) mental illness; (d) learning disability, and (e) maternity beds there were in each health board area in each year since 1994-95.

Susan Deacon: Information on the number of acute, geriatric, psychiatric, learning disability and obstetric beds in each Health Board for each year since 1994-95 is provided in the table.

  NHS in Scotland – Average Available Staffed Beds

  Years Ending 31 March 1995 – 1999 

  

 
Acute1 

Geriatric2 

Psychiatric3 

Learning Disabilities 

Obstetrics 



Year Ending
31 March
1995 

 
 
 
 
 


Argyll and Clyde 

1,198 

949 

1,092 

234 

137 



Ayrshire and Arran 

1,075 

600 

658 

134 

109 



Borders 

339 

210 

239 

6 

28 



Dumfries and Galloway 

405 

314 

382 

81 

44 



Fife 

774 

615 

684 

303 

79 



Forth Valley 

592 

669 

622 

526 

95 



Grampian 

1,843 

1,048 

1,053 

297 

202 



Greater Glasgow 

3,721 

2,387 

2,144 

665 

295 



Highland 

738 

370 

391 

106 

82 



Lanarkshire 

1,600 

960 

988 

440 

124 



Lothian 

2,437 

1,744 

1,663 

488 

200 



Orkney 

91 

51 

- 

- 

8 



Shetland 

46 

81 

- 

- 

10 



Tayside 

1,589 

879 

1,069 

189 

131 



Western Isles 

100 

97 

51 

- 

18 



 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland 

16,549 

10,974 

11,034 

3,468 

1,563 




  

 
Acute1 

Geriatric2 

Psychiatric3 

Learning Disabilities 

Obstetrics 



Year Ending
31 March
1996 

 
 
 
 
 


Argyll and Clyde 

1,147 

943 

1,076 

226 

138 



Ayrshire and Arran 

971 

594 

607 

132 

105 



Borders 

340 

206 

227 

5 

28 



Dumfries and Galloway 

416 

269 

367 

86 

44 



Fife 

754 

541 

657 

303 

68 



Forth Valley 

573 

637 

570 

489 

80 



Grampian 

1,804 

1,033 

988 

286 

194 



Greater Glasgow 

3,651 

2,313 

1,878 

643 

275 



Highland 

806 

287 

362 

89 

80 



Lanarkshire 

1,581 

927 

923 

440 

123 



Lothian 

2,317 

1,643 

1,631 

467 

195 



Orkney 

85 

53 

4 

- 

8 



Shetland 

46 

80 

- 

- 

10 



Tayside 

1,540 

842 

1,055 

159 

125 



Western Isles 

95 

93 

48 

- 

14 



 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland 

16,126 

10,459 

10,392 

3,325 

1,487 



 
 
 
 
 
 


Year Ending
31 March
1997 

 
 
 
 
 


Argyll and Clyde 

1,115 

943 

1,059 

226 

135 



Ayrshire and Arran 

908 

604 

527 

130 

89 



Borders 

350 

196 

201 

6 

28 



Dumfries and Galloway 

389 

250 

335 

86 

44 



Fife 

741 

506 

621 

293 

68 



Forth Valley 

556 

637 

530 

454 

83 



Grampian 

1,791 

1,004 

898 

265 

176 



Greater Glasgow 

3,588 

2,125 

1,655 

617 

272 



Highland 

812 

244 

284 

76 

80 



Lanarkshire 

1,551 

893 

898 

433 

107 



Lothian 

2,265 

1,413 

1,488 

386 

165 



Orkney 

89 

46 

10 

- 

8 



Shetland 

50 

67 

- 

- 

10 



Tayside 

1,459 

782 

1,027 

169 

120 



Western Isles 

106 

66 

45 

- 

14 



 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland 

15,770 

9,776 

9,580 

3,141 

1,400 



 
 
 
 
 
 


Year Ending
31 March
1998 

 
 
 
 
 


Argyll and Clyde 

1,108 

988 

1,080 

226 

132 



Ayrshire and Arran 

900 

640 

481 

123 

90 



Borders 

340 

192 

188 

6 

28 



Dumfries and Galloway 

395 

221 

331 

86 

43 



Fife 

713 

485 

581 

250 

68 



Forth Valley 

560 

524 

495 

445 

82 



Grampian 

1,788 

883 

801 

247 

172 



Greater Glasgow 

3,454 

2,142 

1,632 

584 

248 



Highland 

817 

255 

265 

76 

80 



Lanarkshire 

1,513 

832 

881 

394 

106 



Lothian 

2,049 

1,247 

1,363 

301 

157 



Orkney 

139 

- 

- 

- 

8 



Shetland 

54 

52 

- 

- 

10 



Tayside 

1,443 

730 

932 

150 

118 



Western Isles 

117 

99 

45 

- 

13 



 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland 

15,390 

9,290 

9,076 

2,888 

1,354 



 
 
 
 
 
 


Year Ending
31 March
1999 

 
 
 
 
 


Argyll and Clyde 

1,097 

925 

1,001 

203 

126 



Ayrshire and Arran 

907 

596 

445 

127 

90 



Borders 

333 

185 

186 

7 

28 



Dumfries and Galloway 

391 

231 

584 

222 

43 



Fife 

704 

473 

583 

203 

68 



Forth Valley 

545 

531 

455 

415 

83 



Grampian 

1,788 

767 

767 

225 

167 



Greater Glasgow 

3,299 

1,837 

1,516 

463 

215 



Highland 

778 

246 

263 

76 

73 



Lanarkshire 

1,494 

823 

848 

394 

106 



Lothian 

1,955 

1,200 

1,280 

246 

133 



Orkney 

123 

- 

- 

- 

8 



Shetland 

54 

40 

- 

- 

6 



Tayside 

1,415 

652 

896 

108 

100 



Western Isles 

142 

61 

47 

- 

11 



 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland 

15,026 

8,566 

8,870 

2,688 

1,258 




  p Provisional

  1 Acute specialty group comprises –all specialties not included in the following specialty groups: Geriatric, Psychiatric, Learning Disabilities and Obstetrics

  2 Geriatric specialty group comprises – Geriatric Assessment, Geriatric Long-Stay and Younger Physically Disabled

  3 Psychiatric specialty group comprises – Mental Illness, Psychogeriatrics, Child Psychiatry and Adolescent Psychiatry

  Source: ISD Scotland

Health

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients (a) had not yet been seen following GP written referral, and (b) were waiting between referral and consultation, broken down (i) by speciality; and (ii) by quarter-year from 30 March 1997.

Susan Deacon: Information on waiting lists is collected centrally for hospital inpatients and day cases. Data is available on first outpatient referrals and the length of time that patients waited for their first outpatient appointment. The median waiting time for a first outpatient appointment following a General Medical Practitioner/General Dental Practitioner referral, by specialty, for each quarter from 31 March 1997, is provided in the table.

  The Scottish Executive is committed to set and monitor targets to speed treatment and shorten waiting times. We plan to ensure that this commitment extends to outpatients as well as inpatient and day case treatment and we will consult widely before targets are set. These targets will be closely monitored and will be published.

  NHS in Scotland: Median Wait For First Outpatient Appointment1 Following General Medical Practitioner/General Dental Practitioner Referral, By Specialty

  

Specialty
 

31 
Mar
1997 

30 June
1997 

30
Sept
1997 

31
Dec
1997 

31
Mar
1998 

30 June
1998 

30
Sept
1998 

31
Dec
1998p 

31
Mar
1999p 



Adolescent Psychiatry 

71 

73 

50 

64 

63 

77 

45 

51 

39 



Anaesthetic 

127 

129 

135 

132 

132 

141 

153 

140 

107 



Cardiac Surgery 

- 

92 

79 

61 

51 

86 

76 

55 

36 



Cardiology 

56 

69 

70 

67 

67 

80 

73 

62 

47 



Cardiothoracic Surgery 

33 

45 

47 

44 

41 

28 

40 

35 

32 



Child Psychiatry 

117 

179 

172 

127 

128 

131 

93 

77 

80 



Clinical Genetics 

123 

137 

135 

126 

124 

147 

141 

127 

105 



Clinical Oncology 

41 

30 

29 

28 

23 

17 

22 

37 

33 



Communicable Diseases 

36 

35 

41 

53 

43 

66 

35 

42 

52 



Dermatology 

91 

103 

105 

102 

92 

102 

100 

102 

69 



Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) 

77 

88 

90 

89 

87 

101 

106 

97 

74 



Endocrinology & Diabetes 

61 

69 

75 

79 

77 

80 

73 

72 

64 



Gastroenterology 

69 

79 

80 

85 

81 

92 

93 

89 

84 



General Medicine 

56 

67 

64 

64 

60 

72 

68 

68 

56 



General Psychiatry 

50 

57 

56 

56 

51 

55 

49 

51 

41 



General Surgery 

48 

55 

57 

61 

55 

60 

65 

70 

54 



General Surgery (excluding Vascular)


55 

58 

57 

58 

55 

63 

68 

73 

60 



Geriatric Medicine 

33 

30 

31 

34 

29 

35 

31 

33 

27 



GP – Or Than Obstetrics 

66 

53 

56 

46 

57 

52 

56 

30 

50 



Gynaecology 

59 

66 

62 

63 

58 

65 

63 

63 

51 



Haematology 

33 

29 

32 

35 

28 

31 

34 

41 

35 



Homeopathy 

308 

307 

281 

266 

271 

278 

270 

253 

214 



Learning Disability 

66 

70 

54 

38 

31 

74 

31 

34 

64 



Medical Oncology 

27 

22 

25 

21 

13 

21 

17 

22 

15 



Medical Paediatrics 

50 

56 

52 

57 

61 

63 

59 

56 

53 



Nephrology 

55 

50 

48 

51 

53 

57 

57 

48 

40 



Neurology 

127 

146 

154 

153 

157 

155 

143 

120 

100 



Neurosurgery 

60 

90 

80 

83 

78 

78 

82 

74 

39 



Obstetrics 

30 

25 

28 

29 

35 

32 

38 

42 

39 



Obstetrics – Ante-Natal 

32 

29 

31 

34 

31 

30 

31 

33 

29 



Obstetrics – Post-Natal 

61 

47 

54 

52 

47 

50 

50 

53 

48 



Ophthalmology 

76 

90 

89 

98 

99 

107 

107 

102 

71 



Oral Medicine 

70 

85 

70 

70 

81 

118 

106 

83 

54 



Oral Surgery 

71 

76 

74 

78 

78 

87 

86 

89 

73 



Orthodontics 

115 

140 

137 

133 

123 

140 

129 

114 

100 



Orthopaedics 

107 

119 

130 

127 

121 

130 

133 

124 

83 



Paediatric Dentistry 

165 

151 

82 

74 

88 

66 

53 

63 

42 



Plastic Surgery 

85 

91 

104 

118 

111 

121 

133 

133 

84 



Psychiatry of Old Age 

40 

32 

37 

39 

43 

37 

35 

38 

28 



Rehabilitation
Medicine 

60 

75 

66 

64 

52 

56 

72 

60 

50 



Respiratory
Medicine 

43 

48 

49 

46 

43 

50 

49 

46 

34 



Restorative Dentistry 

153 

142 

133 

122 

139 

154 

132 

119 

88 



Rheumatology 

101 

105 

111 

101 

95 

111 

111 

105 

63 



Surgical Paediatrics 

103 

116 

117 

124 

113 

106 

92 

89 

81 



Thoracic Surgery 

39 

31 

27 

37 

43 

32 

38 

57 

24 



Urology 

67 

75 

71 

70 

64 

72 

74 

76 

65 



Vascular Surgery 

65 

70 

72 

79 

76 

81 

98 

105 

56 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


All Specialties 

75 

83 

85 

85 

82 

91 

90 

86 

63 




  p Provisional

  1 Excludes A&E and genito urinary medicine. Also excludes cases with a Patient’s Charter guarantee exception.

Health

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what were the numbers of operations cancelled on the day of, or the day after, admission to a hospital, and the numbers of those patients not readmitted within a month, by quarter-year for the last two years for each health board.

Susan Deacon: Information on cancellations of hospital admissions at the level of detail requested is not held centrally. Details of cancellations of planned admissions for inpatient and day case treatment for each Health Board in Scotland for the period requested is provided in the table. Information on cancellations of hospital planned admissions is published annually in the NHS in Scotland Annual Report.

  NHS in Scotland: Cancellations Of Hospital Admissions1 By Health Board: Quarters Ending 31 March 1997 To 31 March 1999 

  

Health Board 

1997 

1998 

1999 



 
31
Mar
1997 

30
June 1997


30 Sept
1997 

31
Dec
1997 

31
Mar 1998


30 June 1998


30 Sept
1998p 

31
Dec 1998p 

31 
Mar
1999p 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Argyll and Clyde 

231 

231 

134 

108 

201 

242 

192 

172 

222 



Ayrshire and Arran 

44 

49 

49 

45 

98 

60 

67 

41 

181 



Borders 

74 

97 

25 

94 

56 

74 

39 

86 

88 



Dumfries and Galloway 

13 

13 

22 

2 

62 

21 

2 

21 

56 



Fife 

303 

151 

238 

218 

270 

201 

152 

189 

254 



Forth Valley 

68 

76 

80 

39 

88 

57 

60 

81 

70 



Grampian 

488 

340 

301 

333 

458 

489 

529 

426 

430 



Greater Glasgow2 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1,106 



Highland 

227 

156 

220 

139 

177 

204 

163 

162 

221 



Lanarkshire 

56 

45 

21 

16 

11 

54 

69 

70 

36 



Lothian 

837 

501 

474 

438 

475 

510 

514 

511 

635 



Orkney 

13 

23 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1 

- 

6 



Shetland 

6 

1 

10 

3 

2 

1 

- 

10 

13 



Tayside 

288 

248 

232 

194 

263 

211 

190 

261 

285 



Western Isles 

4 

2 

- 

- 

2 

- 

5 

- 

4 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland 

2,652 

1,933 

1,806 

1,629 

2,163 

2,124 

1,983 

2,030 

3,607 




  p Provisional

  1 Cancellations made by hospital of admission of patients from the waiting list.

  2 Information for the quarters ending 31 March 1997 to 31 December 1998 is not available in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area.

Health

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients (a) in each health board area, and (b) nationally, were detained past their original discharge date in NHS beds before moving to social service beds in the last year for which figures are available, and whether it will estimate the cost of delayed discharges to the NHS.

Susan Deacon: Health Boards have not previously been required to submit information routinely on delayed discharges. However, a pilot data collection exercise started in April 1999 to collect information based on an agreed national standard definition, reasons for delay and data recording for delayed discharge. The first provisional data under this initiative should be available at the end of this month.

Health

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an estimate of the number of people in each health board area who are currently waiting for an appointment with a consultant following referral by a general practitioner, and whether it will provide a breakdown of the length of time for which those people (a) have already waited, and (b) are expected to wait.

Susan Deacon: Information on waiting lists is collected centrally for hospital inpatients and day cases. Data is available on first outpatient referrals and the length of time that patients waited for their first outpatient appointment. The median waiting time for a first outpatient appointment following a General Medical Practitioner/General Dental Practitioner referral at 31 March 1999, by Health Board area, is provided in the table.

  The Scottish Executive is committed to set and monitor targets to speed treatment and shorten waiting times. We plan to ensure that this commitment extends to outpatients as well as inpatient and day case treatment and will consult widely before targets are set. These targets will be closely monitored and will be published.

  NHS in Scotland: Median Wait For First Outpatient Appointment1 Following General Medical Practitioner/General Dental Practitioner Referral At 31 March 1999p 

  

Health Board 

Median Wait (Days) 



 

 


Argyll and Clyde 

49 



Ayrshire and Arran 

55 



Borders 

59 



Dumfries and Galloway 

49 



Fife 

72 



Forth Valley 

66 



Grampian 

72 



Greater Glasgow 

62 



Highland 

58 



Lanarkshire 

66 



Lothian 

55 



Orkney 

35 



Shetland 

51 



Tayside 

63 



Western Isles 

47 



 
 


Scotland 

63 




  p Provisional

  1 Excludes A&E and genito urinary medicine. Also excludes cases with a Patient’s Charter guarantee exception.

Health

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are currently unemployed in each constituency area and what were the equivalent figures for each of the last five years.

Henry McLeish: Headline unemployment figures are derived from the Labour Force Survey, and use internationally-agreed definitions. Unfortunately these data are only available down to local authority level. However, figures for the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits (the claimant count) are available for each constituency area from 1996 to 1999, and are shown in the table below.

  Updated figures are published each month by the Office for National Statistics in the Labour Market statistics first release for Scotland.

  In future, the information will be available on the NOMIS database in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. Information Centre staff will, if necessary, be ready to assist in accessing similar figures.

  

Claimant count unemployed by Gender
and Scottish Parliamentary Constituency 



Scotland, May 1996, May 1997, May
1998, May 1999 



 
All 

Males 

Females 



Parliamentary Constituency


1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 



Aberdeen Central 

2,545 

1,978 

1,476 

1,697 

1,956 

1,521 

1,157 

1,346 

589 

457 

319 

351 



Aberdeen North 

1,694 

1,229 

844 

1,019 

1,336 

969 

663 

821 

358 

260 

181 

198 



Aberdeen South 

1,964 

1,373 

992 

1,280 

1,454 

1,032 

747 

988 

510 

341 

245 

292 



Airdrie & Shotts 

3,261 

2,921 

2,547 

2,441 

2,614 

2,314 

1,978 

1,885 

647 

607 

569 

556 



Angus 

2,830 

2,373 

2,049 

1,897 

1,970 

1,691 

1,454 

1,385 

860 

682 

595 

512 



Argyll & Bute 

2,479 

1,877 

1,696 

1,667 

1,842 

1,440 

1,325 

1,273 

637 

437 

371 

394 



Ayr 

2,791 

2,415 

2,094 

2,020 

2,064 

1,848 

1,632 

1,572 

727 

567 

462 

448 



Banff & Buchan 

1,796 

1,231 

1,059 

1,221 

1,322 

926 

810 

950 

474 

305 

249 

271 



Caithness, Sutherland and Easter
Ross 

2,597 

2,041 

1,796 

1,569 

2,027 

1,604 

1,398 

1,251 

570 

437 

398 

318 



Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley


3,802 

3,011 

2,734 

2,636 

2,914 

2,418 

2,188 

2,062 

888 

593 

546 

574 



Central Fife 

3,522 

2,828 

2,778 

2,868 

2,667 

2,153 

2,142 

2,218 

855 

675 

636 

650 



Clydebank and Milngavie 

2,825 

2,520 

2,188 

1,958 

2,280 

2,028 

1,773 

1,571 

545 

492 

415 

387 



Clydesdale 

2,709 

2,217 

1,958 

1,848 

2,163 

1,773 

1,527 

1,409 

546 

444 

431 

439 



Coatbridge & Chryston 

2,616 

2,304 

2,132 

1,980 

2,074 

1,789 

1,645 

1,531 

542 

515 

487 

449 



Cumbernauld & Kilsyth 

2,249 

1,896 

1,751 

1,555 

1,690 

1,468 

1,365 

1,210 

559 

428 

386 

345 



Cunninghame North 

2,876 

2,340 

2,169 

2,147 

2,169 

1,815 

1,642 

1,638 

707 

525 

527 

509 



Cunninghame South 

3,290 

2,792 

2,760 

2,779 

2,512 

2,100 

2,059 

2,005 

778 

692 

701 

774 



Dumbarton 

3,410 

2,882 

2,673 

2,371 

2,657 

2,268 

2,109 

1,849 

753 

614 

564 

522 



Dumfries 

2,892 

2,337 

2,062 

2,148 

2,137 

1,718 

1,521 

1,582 

755 

619 

541 

566 



Dundee East 

4,410 

3,787 

3,215 

3,145 

3,438 

3,015 

2,504 

2,476 

972 

772 

711 

669 



Dundee West 

3,699 

3,173 

2,811 

2,628 

2,858 

2,494 

2,232 

2,077 

841 

679 

579 

551 



Dunfermline East 

3,108 

2,520 

2,074 

2,154 

2,394 

1,988 

1,643 

1,734 

714 

532 

431 

420 



Dunfermline West 

2,551 

1,955 

1,876 

1,752 

1,918 

1,538 

1,452 

1,368 

633 

417 

424 

384 



East Kilbride 

2,741 

2,144 

1,885 

1,721 

2,064 

1,596 

1,412 

1,297 

677 

548 

473 

424 



East Lothian 

1,956 

1,611 

1,271 

1,084 

1,536 

1,307 

1,008 

826 

420 

304 

263 

258 



Eastwood 

1,925 

1,557 

1,362 

1,362 

1,462 

1,157 

1,010 

1,023 

463 

400 

352 

339 



Edinburgh Central 

3,174 

2,590 

2,016 

1,842 

2,393 

2,001 

1,570 

1,434 

781 

589 

446 

408 



Edinburgh East & Musselburgh


2,510 

2,134 

1,584 

1,495 

2,004 

1,735 

1,275 

1,205 

506 

399 

309 

290 



Edinburgh North and Leith 

4,030 

3,281 

2,393 

2,264 

3,065 

2,548 

1,876 

1,788 

965 

733 

517 

476 



Edinburgh Pentlands 

2,289 

1,963 

1,513 

1,383 

1,772 

1,524 

1,190 

1,107 

517 

439 

323 

276 



Edinburgh South 

2,397 

1,971 

1,480 

1,364 

1,846 

1,511 

1,132 

1,053 

551 

460 

348 

311 



Edinburgh West 

2,108 

1,605 

1,233 

1,232 

1,644 

1,287 

953 

984 

464 

318 

280 

248 



Falkirk East 

2,599 

2,039 

2,040 

1,967 

2,034 

1,576 

1,586 

1,520 

565 

463 

454 

447 



Falkirk West 

2,833 

2,346 

2,205 

2,220 

2,198 

1,842 

1,708 

1,657 

635 

504 

497 

563 



Galloway & Upper Nithsdale


2,587 

2,023 

1,759 

1,722 

1,917 

1,548 

1,317 

1,247 

670 

475 

442 

475 



Glasgow Anniesland 

3,013 

2,482 

2,288 

2,244 

2,478 

2,036 

1,891 

1,854 

535 

446 

397 

390 



Glasgow Baillieston 

3,938 

3,364 

2,743 

2,584 

3,226 

2,719 

2,209 

2,048 

712 

645 

534 

536 



Glasgow Cathcart 

2,439 

2,145 

1,822 

1,706 

1,945 

1,694 

1,456 

1,385 

494 

451 

366 

321 



Glasgow Govan 

3,792 

3,250 

2,876 

2,774 

2,985 

2,596 

2,270 

2,221 

807 

654 

606 

553 



Glasgow Kelvin 

3,938 

3,420 

2,762 

2,313 

2,995 

2,654 

2,147 

1,863 

943 

766 

615 

450 



Glasgow Maryhill 

4,768 

4,372 

3,561 

3,327 

3,767 

3,422 

2,800 

2,657 

1,001 

950 

761 

670 



Glasgow Pollok 

3,579 

3,076 

2,838 

2,568 

2,885 

2,464 

2,306 

2,067 

694 

612 

532 

501 



Glasgow Rutherglen 

2,637 

2,198 

1,899 

1,778 

2,153 

1,757 

1,525 

1,416 

484 

441 

374 

362 



Glasgow Shettleston 

3,601 

3,112 

2,881 

2,783 

2,961 

2,590 

2,359 

2,266 

640 

522 

522 

517 



Glasgow Springburn 

4,294 

3,780 

3,350 

2,985 

3,479 

3,051 

2,666 

2,434 

815 

729 

684 

551 



Gordon 

1,509 

1,050 

700 

916 

1,056 

732 

499 

669 

453 

318 

201 

247 



Greenock & Inverclyde 

2,172 

1,916 

1,894 

1,933 

1,773 

1,523 

1,502 

1,515 

399 

393 

392 

418 



Hamilton North & Bellshill


3,028 

2,603 

2,401 

2,435 

2,455 

2,093 

1,893 

1,907 

573 

510 

508 

528 



Hamilton South 

2,241 

1,987 

1,760 

1,714 

1,863 

1,630 

1,407 

1,355 

378 

357 

353 

359 



Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber


3,238 

2,403 

1,888 

1,625 

2,490 

1,813 

1,458 

1,256 

748 

590 

430 

369 



Kilmarnock & Loudoun 

3,414 

3,152 

2,818 

2,838 

2,606 

2,435 

2,140 

2,108 

808 

717 

678 

730 



Kirkcaldy 

3,525 

2,787 

2,714 

2,909 

2,675 

2,152 

2,066 

2,225 

850 

635 

648 

684 



Linlithgow 

2,398 

1,633 

1,611 

1,510 

1,856 

1,308 

1,266 

1,218 

542 

325 

345 

292 



Livingston 

2,661 

1,892 

1,780 

1,732 

1,999 

1,446 

1,401 

1,316 

662 

446 

379 

416 



Midlothian 

1,780 

1,336 

1,029 

983 

1,431 

1,096 

833 

794 

349 

240 

196 

189 



Moray 

2,636 

2,027 

1,631 

1,611 

1,856 

1,479 

1,174 

1,162 

780 

548 

457 

449 



Motherwell & Wishaw 

2,818 

2,360 

2,215 

2,177 

2,306 

1,915 

1,750 

1,736 

512 

445 

465 

441 



North East Fife 

1,817 

1,402 

1,162 

1,211 

1,317 

1,010 

815 

840 

500 

392 

347 

371 



North Tayside 

2,065 

1,702 

1,438 

1,249 

1,485 

1,269 

1,058 

940 

580 

433 

380 

309 



Ochil 

2,615 

2,255 

2,061 

1,886 

2,005 

1,739 

1,576 

1,458 

610 

516 

485 

428 



Orkney 

397 

346 

307 

286 

291 

256 

231 

200 

106 

90 

76 

86 



Paisley North 

2,780 

2,250 

2,206 

2,081 

2,194 

1,788 

1,708 

1,630 

586 

462 

498 

451 



Paisley South 

3,211 

2,667 

2,385 

2,270 

2,497 

2,141 

1,889 

1,818 

714 

526 

496 

452 



Perth 

2,270 

2,059 

1,570 

1,472 

1,692 

1,577 

1,220 

1,115 

578 

482 

350 

357 



Ross, Skye & Inverness West


3,177 

2,667 

2,102 

1,806 

2,410 

2,022 

1,551 

1,349 

767 

645 

551 

457 



Roxburgh & Berwickshire 

1,461 

1,052 

1,123 

1,205 

1,073 

791 

822 

909 

388 

261 

301 

296 



Shetland 

482 

462 

434 

390 

370 

346 

310 

285 

112 

116 

124 

105 



Stirling 

2,092 

1,706 

1,503 

1,444 

1,598 

1,321 

1,160 

1,095 

494 

385 

343 

349 



Strathkelvin & Bearsden 

2,292 

1,799 

1,610 

1,394 

1,743 

1,366 

1,240 

1,087 

549 

433 

370 

307 



Tweeddale, Ettrick & Lauderdale


1,328 

957 

868 

1,001 

986 

723 

669 

765 

342 

234 

199 

236 



West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine


1,306 

935 

606 

748 

904 

636 

431 

550 

402 

299 

175 

198 



West Renfrewshire 

1,647 

1,350 

1,338 

1,363 

1,298 

1,065 

1,050 

1,067 

349 

285 

288 

296 



Western Isles 

1,312 

1,117 

1,033 

1,025 

1,030 

864 

823 

864 

282 

253 

210 

161 



Source: Office
for National Statistics

Justice

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to reform the law relating to long leasehold tenure

Mr Jim Wallace: This is an area on which the Scottish Executive would prefer to await recommendations from the Scottish Law Commission before legislating.

  The Commission has given some attention to leasehold tenure in its 1998 report on Leasehold Casualties (Scot Law Com No 165) and it has recommended in its 1999 report on Abolition of the Feudal System (Scot Law Com No 168) that a maximum length be fixed for long leases of land. New residential leases are already limited to 20 years. However a major review by the Commission of leasehold tenure has been deferred until the Commission could complete reports on the Law of the Tenement (Scot Law Com 162), Abolition of the Feudal System and Real Burdens. Only the last of these is outstanding and a report is expected by early next year.

  The Commission is currently preparing recommendations to Ministers on its sixth programme of law reform and this is likely to include a review of long residential leases.

Justice

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it envisages that the proposed bill to abolish the feudal system of land tenure will receive Royal Assent.

Mr Jim Wallace: I announced on 30 June that the Scottish Law Commission’s draft Bill on the Abolition of the Feudal System would form the basis of legislation to be put to Parliament after the summer recess. It is a matter for the Parliament how the Bill should progress thereafter.

Justice

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the estimated annual running cost of the Office of the Accountant in Bankruptcy in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02.

Mr Jim Wallace: The current estimates are given below. These include the cost of payments to Trustees and Agents, offset by income from cases dealt with by the Office of the Accountant in Bankruptcy.

  

1999-2000 

2000-01 

2001-02 



£3,523,000 

£4,024,000 

£4,533,000

Maritime Incident

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to seek from Her Majesty’s Government a report on the incident in the Fair Isle Channel on 26 June 1999, when a tanker drifted without control for some 17 hours before the arrival of a salvage tug.

Sarah Boyack: A report of the incident has been supplied by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Media

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to establish a forum for dialogue with the film and television industry.

Rhona Brankin: Scottish Screen already fulfils this role.

Media

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the role in the economy of Scotland’s film and television industry.

Rhona Brankin: Enhancing the economic role of the creative industries will be an objective of the national cultural strategy.

Oil

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to seek representation on the UK, Oil and Gas Industry Task Force.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is represented on the Task Force.

Sport

Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether in the light of the decision regarding development of a National Swimming Training and Research Centre in Scotland, it intends to make a statement elaborating on the future development of this key aspect of sports provision.

Rhona Brankin: We strongly support in principle the proposal to establish a national training centre for swimming.

Transport

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to establish a regulatory body to ensure that bus service providers deliver an effective service in local communities in Scotland.

Sarah Boyack: Regulatory powers over local bus services in Scotland are currently exercised by the Traffic Commissioner for Scotland. I expect that enhancements will be secure through appropriate provisions in the Transport Bill which, as the First Minister mentioned in his statement on 16 June, will be brought forward later in this Session. Our legislative proposals will take into account, at the same time, responses to the UK Government’s consultation paper From Workhorse to Thoroughbred – A Better Role for Bus Travel .

Transport

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the scope and availability of concessionary travel for elderly and retired people.

Sarah Boyack: At present, under the existing legislation – section 93 of the Transport Act 1985 – decisions on the extent and administration of concessionary travel schemes for certain categories of person, including pensioners, are solely for local authorities taking account of local needs and circumstances. However, as stated in Partnership for Scotland: An Agreement for the First Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Executive will encourage the improvement and integration of concessionary fare schemes on public transport for pensioners and those with special needs.

Transport

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the estimated cost of upgrading the A77 road to dual carriageway status between the Whitletts roundabout in Ayr and the junction between the A77 and A713.

Sarah Boyack: No estimate has been made of the cost of upgrading the A77 to dual carriageway between Whitletts roundabout and the junction between the A77 and A713.

Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make representations to British Airways with regard to the restoration of a direct air service between Inverness and London Heathrow and whether it intends to ask Her Majesty’s Government and the European Commission to make similar representations.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions have commissioned a study which is looking at the economic impact of the withdrawal of the air service between Inverness and Heathrow. The study is expected to report later in the summer. We shall consider its findings very carefully before determining our response.

Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the estimated cost of upgrading the remaining single track sections of the road between Fort William and Mallaig.

Sarah Boyack: The estimated cost of upgrading the section of road through Arisaig to Kinsadel is £9.93m and for improving the road between Arisaig and Loch Nan Uamh is £9.2m, in each case exclusive of VAT.